Welcome to your European Christmas & New Year tour! Leave London and cross the English Channel bound for Paris. On our way we'll make a short stop in northern France in the Somme region. This area was the site of some of the bloodiest trench warfare during WWI. Arriving in the ‘City of Lights’ later this afternoon, join in on a driving tour to get a feel for the city. Catch the city’s highlights - the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Arc de Triomphe, to name but a few! Next we're off to the historic Latin Quarter to enjoy a 3-course French feast with bohemian ambience. The end of dinner signals the end of your first day on tour. Jump on the city’s world-famous Metro system and head back to the hotel.

It’s Christmas Day! Begin with an orientation tour of Montmartre with your tour leader. As you wander the winding streets where artists including Salvador Dali, Picasso, Monet and Vincent van Gogh lived, you will experience this colourful district of the capital, and see the Moulin Rouge and Sacré-Cœur. Afterwards, relax and enjoy lunch with your fellow travellers at a local restaurant. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish. This is the perfect day to explore the Christmas markets, including along the famous Champs Elysees, attend a Christmas church service in the Sacré-Cœur, climb the Eiffel Tower or even visit Disneyland! You can also choose to experience a fantastic cabaret show at one of the city's top venues. The shows are lively, colourful, and tastefully produced.

Enjoy a second day of exploring this vast and wonderful city. Join our 'Paris +' optional excursion for a bumper day of Paris sightseeing with your tour leader. Your first stop will be a tour of the Fragonard Musée du Parfum, which explores the history of one of France's most famous perfumeries. We'll then visit a famous luxury chocolatier, Les Marquis de Laduree, for a tasting. The next stop is the Tuileries Garden and a tour of the grounds of the Louvre, including its famous pyramid. Next, join a cruise of the River Seine, and see sights including the Grand Palais, the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral. We finish off with a visit to Montparnasse Tower and its incredible views. 

Au revoir Paris! Today we sample a taste of small-town France with a lunch stop in Burgundy. In the town of Beaune you can visit the beautiful Hospices de Beaune, or try the famous wine. After lunch we take a long scenic drive across the border into Switzerland and head towards the Swiss Alps for our stay in a typical mountain village in the heart of the Jungfrau region. This is one of the most-visited regions of the Alps and also a World Heritage site, containing Europe's largest glacier. Welcome to the Swiss Alps, your home for the next two days!

The first of two free days in the Swiss Alps! Take in all of the picturesque, festive scenery! Don't miss the opportunity to join your tour leader for the train to Jungfraujoch optional excursion today. The journey up the mountain is a highlight in itself and you will be shuttled to the highest railway station in the whole of Europe, offering views for miles around on a clear day. This 4000m glacier and the combination of ice, snow, rock and epic views will stay with you for life. This optional excursion has been voted the number one for the past three years and is a must on your European tour! End off your free day in Switzerland with an optional Swiss dinner.

Your second free day in Switzerland! Beginner and experienced ski/snowboard packages are available, with full equipment hire, transport and tuition. You'll be staying in the heart of the Alps, which provides a great base for exploring the surrounding towns and villages. You can also join our optional day trip to the elegant city of Lucerne, with free time to explore and an included cruise of Lake Lucerne.

Our next stop is Strasbourg in France. This historic town is an interesting mix of French and German influences. Make the most of your time here by exploring on foot. Wonder through this picturesque town and see the Strasbourg Cathedral and admire the sweeping views of the Rhine River. Afterwards, we cross the border into Germany and make our way to Heidelberg. Arrive and check into the hotel room, then spend the evening at your leisure discovering the unique charm of this beautiful Baroque town. Choose to enjoy the Evening in Heidelberg excursion - start the night off with amazing views of the city before roaming the Heidelberg castle grounds followed by a three-course German dinner with wine - prost!

It’s time to see more of Germany. Travel to Cologne today and explore this 2,000-year-old city situated on the Rhine River. Here, admire the High Gothic architecture dotted throughout the town. Don’t miss the Cologne Cathedral - the tallest in the world! We move on and cross the border into the Netherlands! Check into the hotel and then travel into the city for cruise along Amsterdam’s iconic canals. Spend the rest of the evening at your leisure. Tonight, you’re celebrating New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam so join us for a big party with the friendly Dutch in this lively city!

Enjoy a free day in Amsterdam! Choose to relax and take in the sights at your leisure. You can also choose to join your tour leader for a fun-filled day exploring the Dutch countryside. See how traditional clogs are made plus learn all about dutch cheese, how it’s made, and how delicious it is! Next visit the historical windmill village of Zaanse Schans. Here, you will learn how vital these structures were to the industrial development of the country. Next, pay a visit to the historic fishing village of Volendam, which will show you what Amsterdam would have looked like centuries ago. We travel back to Amsterdam in the afternoon. Choose to relax, or visit a local landmark like Van Gogh Museum or the Anne Frank House.

We say goodbye to Amsterdam and travel on to Bruges in Belgium. This tiny, medieval city is bursting full of amazing architecture, cobbled streets and charming canals. Do some sight-seeing here and make sure to sample some of the local delicacies including chocolate, beer and moules et frites! Next, we make our way back to the United Kingdom. After crossing the English Channel, we arrive in London. Swap details with your new travel friends and reminisce about a great 10 days spent celebrating New Years and seeing the best of Europe!